Spring has sprung, and new growth is around the corner—literally! The Neighborhood Garden, sponsored by Schweitzer Church, is located on Oak Grove Avenue. It opened on April 1st, marking the start of the planting season for the gardeners in our local community. As the last traces …
Recently, I placed a new book among my devotional materials: Kind Father by Jason Leininger. I find myself reaching for this prayer book—which, quite honestly, surprises me. Like me, you might ask, “Why a book of written prayers when I can speak my own personal, …
Pickleball at Schweitzer Church is more than a great game. It is a vital, growing, and life-changing ministry. Our second on-campus Serve Pickleball Tournament drew 100 players and raised $13,000 for the Flourish Girls ministry at Pipkin Middle School! This was made possible by many …
I attended the prayer retreat through Schweitzer in the fall of 2025. I wasn’t sure exactly what I signed up for, except that I thought we would be doing a lot of praying. What I learned throughout the weekend was how to pray over people …
“A body you have prepared for Me…” Hebrews 10:5 This verse speaks of our Savior’s physical body as the sacrifice for our sins. Yet Ephesians 1:22-23 tells us the Church also is His body—singular and physical, yet collective and spiritual. You cannot have one without …
To misquote a line from Casablanca, “Of all the church joints, in all the towns, in all the world, you walked into Schweitzer.” Now you are wondering, “What’s next? Where do I go from here?” If you’ve wondered how we do things, what makes us …
The “Really Cool People” podcast was launched in April 2023 by Pastor Jason Leininger with the aim of highlighting remarkable individuals in our community. Jason said, “The stories of everyday people are more inspiring than those of celebrities and big names.” Really Cool People has …
DID YOU KNOW? Our mission is to provide funding for: Training: Education for Clergy and Staff (Ephesians 4:11-16) Evangelism: Outreach/Church plants(Mark 16:15) Social: Food/housing/education for those in need (Matthew 25:35-40) Building: Funding for future ministry spaces (Acts 2:46 and Hebrews 10:24-25) You can donate for …
Did you know that we celebrate the Resurrection in December? We do, because every Sunday of the year is a celebration of Jesus’ victory over death on the “first day of the week.” Even as we walk the dark road of Lent, the six Sundays …
One of the clear markers of Lent is the number of days that it lasts—40. The number 40 has a deep richness in the pages of Scripture. Jesus fasted for 40 days in thewilderness following his baptism in the Jordan. It was in that space …
Like most Christian observances, Ash Wednesday has a long and cherished history. Giants of the faith, like Job, Daniel, and Jeremiah, used ashes and sackcloth to express mourning, humiliation, and repentance. Early Christians continued the practice even after the Gentile Church pulled away from its …
As we connect with neighbors and partners across Springfield, we’re often asked who we are and what we do. This brief Flourish FAQ offers a simple look at our mission, our programs, and how you can join us in serving our community. What is Flourish’s …
This fall, on a Tuesday evening, I watched as excited volunteers prepared for Schweitzer’s first English language class. They anxiously waited for whoever might walk through the door. We had no idea how many students would come, only that we wanted to serve our neighbors …